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Budget 2024 missed an opportunity to make primary and secondary school education in Ireland genuinely free, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “Although the provision of free schoolbooks up to Junior Certificate level is welcome, it is baffling that the Government chose to take a […]

Today’s budget highlights the Government’s lack of ambition for families, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “After months of uncertainty over promised cuts to childcare costs, it is welcome that the further 25 per cent reduction is now confirmed. However, it has emerged that […]

The Government’s budget is a missed opportunity to make huge and lasting improvements in the lives of those who need it most, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The housing disaster is the biggest challenge we face as a country. Nothing in this budget indicates that there will be any change in Government […]

Giving tax breaks to landlords is a wasteful measure that lacks any evidence base, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Rents in Ireland are at record levels and continue to skyrocket. In the last year alone, rents have increased by over 10 per cent with […]

Social Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Gary Gannon has today (Monday, October 9) written to the Ceann Comhairle and the Oireachtas Business Committee requesting time be set aside in the Dáil this week to discuss the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza. Deputy Gannon said: “The Government must facilitate statements in the Dáil this week on […]

Child poverty is corrosive and has lifelong negative consequences – but it is preventable  A DEIS-Plus model of funding for the early years sector is essential if we want to break the cycle of child poverty, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “In the […]

Housing, children and climate take centre stage Read the full Alternative Budget here Housing, children and climate action are the main focus of the Social Democrats’ Alternative Budget, ‘Unlocking the Future’, which is published today. The party’s key priorities for 2024 include: Deliver 10,000 affordable homes next year – a near doubling of the Government’s […]

At least 5,000 tenant in-situ purchases are required this year to prevent people becoming homeless  There has been a 47 per cent rise in the number of children becoming homeless since this Government took office, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s deputy leader and housing spokesperson, said: “The […]

Planned action by gardaí highlights the fragility of Minister for Justice’s temporary policing plan for the capital The impending withdrawal of voluntary overtime by gardaí next month underscores the fragility and inadequacy of the Minister for Justice’s policing plan for Dublin city centre, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who represents Dublin […]

Government must immediately re-engage with Section 39 workers’ unions and end two-tier pay system Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has spoken out in support of Section 39 workers in community and voluntary sector organisations who are to commence indefinite strike action from Tuesday, October 17. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: […]

Average price of a three-bed semi-detached house nationally breaches €300,000 for the first time since 2007 New figures revealing that the average price of a three-bed semi-detached house nationally now exceeds €300,000 shows that home ownership has become increasingly out of reach for prospective buyers, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, the party’s […]

Energy companies should no longer be allowed to ride roughshod over their customers while generating huge profits Households will only see a derisory reduction in their energy bills from November, despite a significant drop in wholesale electricity prices over the past year, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s […]

Practical steps required to help the tens of thousands of people affected by the housing crisis A Social Democrats’ motion to be debated in the Dáil this evening will call for 10,000 affordable purchase and affordable rental homes to be built every year. Cian O’Callaghan, the party’s deputy leader and housing spokesperson, said: “This Government […]

It is extraordinary that the Health Minister has opted to remain overseas while this crisis is escalating Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall has written to the Health Committee requesting that representatives of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) and the HSE attend an emergency meeting of the Committee tomorrow. Deputy Shortall said: “Health Minister Stephen Donnelly […]